Which whistle for pipes?

Uilleann Pipes
1

Hi,
A local Bagpipe player volunteered to play with me on one of my
upcoming albums. He says his Pipes are in B flat.
Is there a whistle I can use, fingering it as if it were a D, and
just play from his music; or do I need to transpose? If so, which whistle
would it transpose to the easiest?
Thanks, Lolly

2

Hey Lolly;

You can purchase a Generation Bb whistle pretty much anywhere good whistles are sold. They’re pretty big when it comes to hole spacing, so you might want to flootle about with it for a while.

Mark

3

Lolly, you did not specify whether these are scottish highland pipes or irish uilleann pipes.

Assuming the former:

Even though the modern highland pipes and indeed some varieties of bellows blown scottish and borders pipes are pitched at or near modern B flat, their tunes are usually notated in A or one of its related modes.

If you’re going to try playing highland pipe tunes from sheet music, your best bet is to transpose it to D, G, or a related mode and then use either a B flat, an Eflat or an F whistle.

Or just use your ears - Bflat, Eflat, and F whistles should be able to cover whole of the Higland pipe repertoire.

Assuming the latter:

Are these flat pitch (as opposed to concert pitch) B (natural) pipes (more common) or are they flat pitch B flat pipes (less common)? Uillean pipes can come in either key.

If they are flat pitch B(natural), you will need a B whistle. This will probably involve a purchase from a higher end maker like Burke.

If they are indeed flat pitch B flat pipes, then a cheap Generation B flat will do the job. I recommend the nickel ones, I have a great one.

4

I have played an ordinary D whistle with smallpipes in A. That worked out well as the whole pipe scale is easily accessible -from G in the lower octave to A in the 2nd octave. If I were going to play with Bb pipes I would try an Eb whistle for the same reason. If you play a Bb whistle, it will probably be not as loud and an Eb and may not be heard. If you play in the lower octave the low Ab is not available. If you play in the upper octave, it is but the high Bb takes you into the 3rd octave. That has never been successful for me on a whistle. If the pipes are highland pipes, you may not be heard very well with either whistle.

Steve

5

Thanks for the replies. I have not seen the pipes yet, but at least you have given me a few ideas. Since the tunes will be Recorded, I can lower the pipes and raise the whistle so I can be heard, ha ha.
Thanks, Lolly

6

Lolly, another whistle choice would be the Susato whistles. They are about the only source I’ve found for Bnat whistle as well as Bb. They are tunable. You may find that the pipes are not perfect Bb’s, so this might be an option, as well.

djm

7

I favor the Eb whistle for playing tunes with Highland Pipes. As was mentioned previously, all the notes on the GHP are available on the Eb so there’s no need to fudge the melody.

8

Sorry. That should say the Bb may not be heard. Not Eb.

Steve